Minicircle Kinetoplast Genome of Insect Trypanosomatid Leptomonas pyrrhocoris.

We present here the structure of a minicircle population based on transcriptome sequencing of Leptomonas pyrrhocoris. We show that minicircle DNA molecules are dimeric. As in dixenous species, the entire molecule of minicircle DNA is transcribed. This is the first minicircle transcriptome of monoxenous trypanosomatid species determined using NGS technology.

[Comorbidity in rheumatoid arthritis: A focus on cardiovascular diseases].

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are ranked first in the structure of comorbidity and mortality. This review includes recent data on common pathogenic mechanisms of inflammation and atherosclerosis, the impact of traditional and specific risk factors, biomarkers of CVD in RA patients. Variants of CVD in RA, the possible pathogenic mechanisms of their development and methods of diagnosis and prevention are described.

[Observational study of the efficacy and safety of the drug Ampasse in patients with moderate cognitive impairment in chronic cerebral ischemia]. / Nablyudatel'noe issledovanie effektivnosti i bezopasnosti primeneniya preparata Ampasse u patsientov s umerennymi kognitivnymi narusheniyami pri khronicheskoi ishemii golovnogo mozga.

OBJECTIVE: The study of the efficacy and safety of drug Ampasse in the treatment of mild cognitive impairment syndrome (MCI) in patients with chronic cerebral ischemia (CCI) and as an adjuvant therapy in the treatment of chronic pain syndromes of various origins. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 50 patients with an average age of 67±7.4 years with MCI syndrome against the background of CCI, suffering from chronic pain syndromes of various origins, received the drug Ampasse at a dose of 25 mg per day intravenously by bolus for 15 days. At the screening visit, day 15 of therapy, day 30, and day 180 of the observation period, cognitive functions, emotional sphere, severity of pain syndrome, sleep quality, and quality of life were assessed. RESULTS: In 95% of patients during therapy, an improvement in cognitive functions was noted (increase by 2 points on scales MoCA and MMSE, p<0.05). The maximum severity of cognitive improvement was achieved by the 30th day of observation. By the 180th day of observation, 5% of patients had returned to their original cognitive status, which is probably due to the need for a repeated course of therapy to maintain the clinical effect. The antiamnestic effect of Ampasse was also manifested in patients with a multifunctional amnestic phenotype of MCI, which may indicate a comorbidity with a neurodegenerative disease. A total of 84% of patients experienced a decrease in pain intensity during treatment (decrease by 2.3 points on VAS, decrease in consumption of analgesics by 1.5 tablets per day, p<0.05). This effect persisted throughout the observation period and was associated with improved sleep quality. In the course of treatment, no cases of anxiety or depression were detected. All patients showed an improvement in their quality of life according to the scale SF-36. The use of Ampasse showed a good level of tolerability and safety. CONCLUSION: The use of Ampasse is effective and safe in the treatment of MCI in CCI and helps to reduce the clinical manifestations of pain syndromes of various origins. The mechanism of the analgesic action of Ampasse, as well as the need for and optimal timing of repeated courses of therapy, require further study.

[The use of the Mini-Cog, MMSE, and GPCOG tests in domestic clinical practice for the evaluation of cognitive disorders in elderly and senile patients: the results of a survey of experts' opinions]. / Primenenie v otechestvennoi klinicheskoi praktike testov Mini-Kog, MMSE i GPCOG dlya otsenki kognitivnykh narushenii u patsientov pozhilogo i starcheskogo vozrasta: rezul'taty oprosa mneniya spetsialistov.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the experts' opinion on the feasibility of using Mini-Kog, MMSE and GPCOG tests for screening assessment of cognitive impairment in elderly and senile patients at the primary stage of medical care, as well as to compare different characteristics of these tests according to experts' opinion. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The survey of specialists was carried out on the basis of 6 Medical Centers. Prior to the survey, specialists tested cognitive functions in elderly and senile patients during routine visits undergoing routine admission using Mini-Kog, MMSE and GPCOG tests, as well as interviewed their relatives using the corresponding section of the GPCOG. During the survey, specialists filled out a special physician checklist containing items for indicating socio-demographic information and questions regarding the use of tests for assessing cognitive functions in elderly and senile patients in daily clinical practice. RESULTS: The survey involved 40 specialists from different cities of Russia (mean age±SD - 38.6±14.3 years, 82.5% - women). Elderly and senile patients accounted for the predominant proportion (76-100%) of all followed-up patients. All physicians considered it important to conduct a cognitive assessment in elderly patients and they have to use various cognitive tests in their practice. According to most experts, among the Mini-Kog, MMSE and GPCOG tests, all three tools are informative, convenient and suitable for screening cognitive impairment in geriatric patients. The MMSE test is more informative and convenient. Mini-Kog, compared to the other two tools, is the simplest and most time-efficient tool that is also better perceived by patients. An advantage of the GPCOG is the possibility of participation of informants in the assessment of cognitive functions in older patients. CONCLUSION: The findings could be used in further research focused on improving the approaches for early detection of cognitive impairment in geriatric patients by primary care physicians.